SOUTH SUDAN: MALAKAL IDP SETTLEMENT

PHOTOS & TEXTS BY GILES CLARKE

The Malakal Protection Of Civilians site (POC) was set up by the United Nations in 2013 and located in the northeastern part of South Sudan- which gained its independence in 2011. On the night of February 17th, 2016, the camp was attacked by ethnic militants leading to running battles between members of Dinka and Shilluk groups. Some 6,000 UN peacekeepers are deployed at the Malakal base, keeping watch over 47,000 people.

Both the government and opposition rebels have been accused of carrying out massacres and more than 2.8 million people are in need of aid.

The war has its roots in a political rift between President Salva Kiir and his deputy Riek Machar, which gave way to ethnic violence. The Malakal site is one of eight UN bases in South Sudan providing a safe haven for displaced people since the civil war began in 2013. According to latest UN figures, over 300,000 have died in fighting since independence in 2011.